Where The Wild Things Are

Spike Jonze's take on Maurice Sendak's classic children's book is his first film since 2002's Adaptation and the seven year wait was worth it.

Sendak's book contains very little actual prose and the question was always about how successfully it could be transferred into the feature film format. Well, it's been done well by fleshing out each of the Wild Things a little than in the book as we follow Max on his adventure to meet them.

Undoubtedly some will criticise the lack of firm plotting in the film once Max meets the family of creatures. But this is a film all about how it feels to be a child; the frustration, the excitement, the fun, the confusion. About how it is to deal with emotions from yourself and others that you don't quite yet really understand.

In the respect it's a sensory film and Jonze along with cinematographer Lance Acord bring a lovely dream like quality to the film (the trailer goes you a strong sense of it). Taking full advantage of flickering fires, the glow of dusk and worlds both big and small (Carol's model village is used wonderfully at least a couple of times).

Plus of course the Wild Things themselves are realised brilliantly with a combination of practical effects and digital effects each one is both believable as strange creature and importantly as a person.

Something which helps the audience invest in them along with a strong voice cast; James Gandolfini and Lauren Ambrose in particular stand out as lead creature Carol and KW respectively.

Away from the creatures, Max Records is naturalistic as Max in the main role and the ever excellent Catherine Keener very nearly has the moment of the film as the relief and love come flooding to her face as her boy comes back home.

Suffice to say I loved this film and it fell into the rare category of films that I immediately wanted to watch again as soon as it finished.

And on a side note..working with dogs is hard.